What makes a resume ATS-friendly
Readable layout. One column, standard fonts, and section headings like Experience, Skills and Education. Real text. No skills inside images, icons or charts. Matching words. The same skill and tool names the job posting uses. Simple file. A text-based PDF or Word file, not a scan.
Formatting that breaks ATS parsing
Tables and text boxes that scramble reading order. Contact details in the header or footer, which some systems skip. Two-column templates that merge lines together. Creative section names ("My Journey") the software doesn't recognise. Hidden white-text keyword stuffing — recruiters see it when they open the file.
ATS resume keywords: the part most people miss
Formatting gets you parsed; keywords get you ranked. Pull the skills, tools and qualifications from the job description and use them word-for-word inside results bullets. Our ATS keywords guide has ready-made lists by role.
Run a free ATS resume check
Upload your resume and name the role you want. You get a resume score out of 100, the ATS keywords you're missing for that role, and a blunt roast of every section — with the exact fixes. Free, no signup.